Radiator.



' w. M. FULTON.

RADIATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.2. 1914.

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3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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W. M. FULTON.

RADIATOR.

APPLlCATION mm man. 2, 19:4.

Patented Feb. 8, L916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. M. FULTON.

RADIATOR. APPFICAIION FILED MAR. 2, 1914.

Patented Feb. 8, I916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

wnsa'orv 'M. FULTON, or KNOXVILLE,

oration.

TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE FULTON JOMPANY, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

RADIATOR.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, WESTON M. FUL'roiI, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement Radiators, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to steam and hot vwater radiators, and more particularly to radiators of the class designed to be inclosed in a casing through which the air to' be heated is caused to circulate by convection.

Steam and hot water radiators heretofore provided with casings for confining the air 15 in contact with the-radiator sections while being heated are wasteful of heat and lack compactness. Portions-0f the air passing through the casing escape without proper contact with the heating surfaces of the coils and other portions remain in contact with the coils longer than is necessary to attain the temperature of the heating medium. The upper portions of the radiator become therefore ineffective and are a source of loss in heating. 1

It is recognized in this art as advantageous to introduce the steam or hot water at the top of the radiator, and to secure this advantage it is the universal practice to extend the supply pipe alongside the radiator to the top, thereby making it necessary to inclose this pipe in the casing. This re quires a larger casing than would be necessary to inclose the radiator itself and is often unsightly.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these objections, andwith this object in view the invention, broadly stated, consists in providing a casing within which is placed a radiator (preferably sectional), so arranged in the casing that the air which enters at the bottom of thecasing is compelled to pass upwardly between the sections of the radiator, and providing said sections with ribs (either solid 'or hollow) or other means for directing the course of the air in its upward movement. The number and size of the ribs may vary and they are so shaped and disposed with reference to each other as to afford channels wlth a minimum retardation of flow. In the form of radiator chosen direction corresponding to a compound curve, theunder surface of each rib being Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 31915..

Applicationfiled March 2, 1914. Serial No. 821,991.

concaved next to the receiving or cool air slde of the radiator and convex next to the upper or discharge side of the radiator, whereas the upper surface of each rib is convex at the receiving or cool air side of the radiator and concaved at the upper or discharge side thereof. The result of this construction is that channels are provided between .the ribs whose upper Lwalls are concaved and whose lower walls are convex at the receiving or cool air side of the radiator while its upper walls are convex and its lower walls are concaved at the discharge or hot air side of the radiator. The surfaces of these ribs may assume various double or compound curve forms, but the form which has given the best results is constructed on the lines of a double cycloidal curve or approximately such a curve and is the one which I prefer. Ribs constructed on this curve afford the quickest possible passage for the air defilected through the channels formed between t em. l

Preferably, the radiator is inclined within the casing and thus forms a channeled partition, through the channels of which all the to facilitate the movement of the air through and from the'casing. Furthermore, the radiator forms a chamber gradually decreasing in cross-sectional area from the bottom upward, so that while there is maintained at all times an ample supply of air to ass through the channelsbetween the ribs 0 the sections of the radiator, nevertheless all of the air that comes in contact with the lower side of-the radlator is compelled to pass u Wardly through said channels and be discharged into the chamber formed between the casing and the radiator on the upper side of the latter. While this specific arrangemen't of the radiator with relation to the casing is the one preferred, it is not essential, since the radiator may be arranged in other relations with regard to the casing while still preserving to a greater or less extent the benefits of the invention. The sec- I tions are preferab shape and are cast with legs; and to permit .may, if desired, with the radiator sections and constitute a tions of the radiator may be either of ,a uniform width from top to bottom or they may be made narrower at the top than at the bottom, as desired, and the casing instead of being formed separately from the radiator e cast in sections integral built-up casing which will inclose the inclined sectional radiator. Y

In order to support the radiator sections in their inclined position, supporting secy provlded, one at each end of the radiator and one or more intermediate the ends when the length of the radiator requires. additional support. These supporting sections arepreferably triangular in greater compactness of the casing, the interior of one of these supporting sections is provided with a vertical passage opening at.

its top into a steam space forming the heat.

'ing chamber of the section and preferably connects at its base through a drain passage with said steam space. This avoids the ne'- cessity of makinglthe casing large enough to .inclose the heat supply pipe. Where sepaable casings are emp oyed, these supporting .sections are also provided with led es on whichthe casing is adaptedto rest.

the detailed description, the above" and other features of the invention will be more fully ex lained.

order that the invention may be more I readily understoody reference will behad to the accompanying drawings showing some of the mechanical expressions of the invenintermediate tive idea, but the drawings are intended merely to assist the description and not as definin the limits of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure l is a view showing in elevation an end supporting sectionof a radiator constructed in accordance with my invention and the casing therefor in section; Fig. 2 'is a horizontal section an enlarged detail perspective view show-v ing cycloidal ribs on an intermediate section of the radiator; Fig. 7 is a trans- I I verse sectional view taken on the line 7.'.-7. of

Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a radiator section embodying the principles of my invention, showin a sectional cas ing as i an integral portion 0 the radiator section; i

" concaved portion running mto a convex por- Fig. 9 1s a transverse sectional view taken on line -9---9-oi:' Fig. *8; Fig. 10 is a rear elevational view with a part of the casing tresection provided moved to show the arrangement of the radiator sections; and Fig. 11 isa view shown in part elevation and art section showing a slight modification 0 one of the radiator sections.

Referring to the drawings, the radiator comprises preferably a plu'rahty of inclined sections 1, the number and size of whichv may vary to meet the requirements of the space to be heated. In order to maintain the sections in their inclinedosition, support.- ing sectionsv 2 are provi ed which are 10- cated at the ends of the radiator and, if additional support is required, one or more of these sections may be located intermediate the ends. In Figs. 1, 3 and'1 0, such supporting sections are illustrated, and eachpreferably comprises a hollow casting triangular in shape havinga base 3 provided with legs 4 and ledges 5. on which a casing 6-may rest. In the vertical'side of the su porting section, a steam or hot water supp passage 7 is provided, which opensthroug a duct 8 into the top of the "heating chamber 9 of the section. Bosses 10, 11'and-12 are tapped into each side wall of the section for the introduction and discharge of the heating medium and for connecting with other sections of the radiator. A dram passage ,13 is also preferably provided between chamber 9 and supply passage 7, and means provided for closmg it, such as screw plug 14, which may be inserted through an opening 15 in the wall of t e casting, which latter is ada ted-to be closed by similar means. .It is pre erable to make all the supporting 7 sections alike to give them interchangeability but where these sections are to be used as en sections, ofilythe boss 11 need be provided in the end face of the section for connecting with a supply pipe 16, and two bosses 10, 12 provi ed on the opposite side for connect' g with the next section. If,

however, the full complement of openings is provided in these sections, those not to be used are closed by plugs.

Intermediate the end supporting sections 2, 2,1 locate theinclined sections'l, one of which is shown in Fig. 4 and a description thereof will serve for the other like sections. Section 1, as illustrated, has an elongated rectangular cross section and consists of a casting provided with suitable bosses at the top and bottom, and on opposite sides, for connecting with its companion sections which are spaced "apart. to. permit passage of air between the sections. The opposite sidewalls of the section 1 are provided with a plurality of ribs 17 of m improved design. These ribs ma be soli or hollow and, in either case, eac rib presents on its downwardly facing side a surface having a tion, with the concave surface located next the convex portion located at the outgoing or heated air side of the radiator section. The rib on-its upwardly facing side presents a similar double curve, the positions of the concave and convex portions being reversed withrelation to the two sides of the radiator section. While I do not wish to be limited to any particular form of double curve, I .prefer to give these surfaces a double cycloidal curve, since I find this curve facilitates the flow of air past the sections while it is deflected by the ribs. These ribs are arranged in a parallel relation with each other across the faces of each section, their general direction approaching the vertical in the normally inclined position of the radiator section. The ribs 17 on ad'acent sections are so positioned and are 0 such a height that they meet to form passages conducting the air across the sections from the air intake side to the discharge side. The length of the passages may vary to meet difl erent conditions of heating, but should be of such length that the air leaving the sections approximates the temperature of the heating medium and not long enough to present idle heating surface after the'air.

reaches this temperature. In Fig. 6, I have shown in enlarged view two of the ribs 17 as they appear on the face of a section 1, and in Fig. 7 a cross-sectional view of two tion.

5 hollow ribs 17 one in each side of the sec- The assembled sections, including thesupporting sections 2 and intermediate 1nclined sections 1, are inclose'd by a casing 6 which may be of any approved form. The casing illustrated is provided with a hood 18 and houses dampers and damper-operating means. This casing is placed over the radiator and is supported on ledges 5, 5 formed on the bases 4 of the end sections. The radiator thus forms an inclined partition located diagonally between the upright walls of the casing and between the inlet or bottom opening of the casing and the top outlet which, as shown, is formed in the hood 18 and is located at the front of the radiator. Two chambers are thus formed, one between the lower side of the radiator and the casing wall, and the other chamber between the upper side of the-radiator and the opposite casing wall. The first-named chamber constitutes a receiving chamber for air enteringthe base and from which it is discharged through the above-described passagesbetween the heating sections into the second chamber. It is to be here noted that the air on arriving at the entrances of the passages is deflected by the downwardly facing concaved surfaces of the ribs without giving a sharp change of direction, and

is .again deflected in a like manner while being accelerated in velocity by expansion.

when it reaches the delivery ends of the tom walls passages. The air has thus been caused to cross the heating sections and its course has been deflected to secure the necessary duration of contact, for maximum absorption of heat, while'avoiding the resistance of sharp bends to flow of air currents and the unnecessary duration of contact .of the air with the I heating surfaces; and to further facilitate the flow of air heated and expanded by the hot surfaces of the radiator passages, the

of the construction remaining the same.

In radiators made up of many sections, it may be desirable to provide additional support for the casing, and for this purpose I preferably provide one or more of the intermediate sections with a bracket arm 19 I having a shoulder 20 in'line with shoulders 5 of the end sections. shown in'Fig. 5.

Instead of making the casing separable, I may make it integral with the inclined radiator, in which case each intermediate sec tion. is provided with plates 21 adapted to be supported by arms 22 projecting from the sections. The'edges of the plates are provided with shoulders 23 permitting them to be matched to each other to form a closed joint when the sections are assembled as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. If desired, these plates may be extended above theradiator to form a hood for housing the damper-operating means.

at is claimed is 1. In combination, a vertical radiator Such construction is casing through which air to be heated passes, a sectional radiator in said casing constituting a partition between the inlet and outlet ends of said casing, opposing ribs on adjacent sections constituting top and bottom walls of passages through which air to be heated passes, said walls having double cycloidal outline for facilitating flow of heated air through said passages.

2. In combination, a radiator casing through which air to be heated passes, a radiator in said casing extending diagonally between its vertical walls and located be tween the inlet and outlet ends of said casingand having passages through which air to be heated passes on its way through the casing, said passages having top and hot- 1 approximately cycloidal in out- 3. In combination, a vertical radiator casing through which air to be heated passes, a radiator in said casing adapted to extend diagonally between the vertical walls of v the same.

its delivery side a chamber progressively increasing in size toward the outlet end of the casing, said radiator being provided with passages through which air to be heated passes, said passages having top and bottom walls cycloidalin outline for facilitating the flow of said heated air. 4

4. In a radiator having sections normally inclined from the vertical, an end section.

adapted to be associated therewithcompris-v ing a casting for supporting the assoclated sections in their inclined position and hav- Y tion open at the top to said. chamber for supplying heatingfluid thereto, and adrain passage between said chamber and supply passage and means for opening and closing 6. An inclosed radiator having sections normally inclined to the vertical, ribso'n adjacent sectionsforming top and bottom walls of passagesthrough which air to be heated passes, said .walls having the outline -of double cycloidal curves forfacilitating V the flow of said heated air.

7. A radiator having sections normally inclined to the vertical, ribs on adjacent sections forming top and bottom walls of passages through which air to be heated passes, said walls having the outline of double cycloidal curves for facilitating the flow of saidheated air.

8. In 4 combination, 'a radiator casing through which air to be heated passes, a

sectional radiator in said casing constitat;

. tating flow of sages.

. ing a partition between the inlet and outlet ends of said casing and having passages between them through which air to be heated passes onits. way. hrough the casing, the

passages at theto of the radiator being shorter than those at the bottom, for the purpose described.

9.111 a radiator ing the associated sections and having a chamber open to said sections and avertical supply passage within said end section open at the top to said chamber for supplying heating fluid thereto, and a drain -p assage between said chamber and supply pasopening and closing sage, and means for the same.

10. In combination, 'a; adiator'ijcasingthroughwhich air "to be heated sectional radiator in said casing 'co" let ends of said casing, the sections bein narrower. at the top than at the bottom an tltuting a' partition between the inlet and out- 4 having sections, an end I section consisting of a casting for supporthaving opposing ribs constituting top and bottom walls. of'air pas r v es,";sai;1 .-wallshaving "double cycloidalout e for zfacili heated air through. said *pas- In. combination, ayertical-Tadiator'. *casing through whichair to be. heated I i passes, a radiator in said casing. adapted to extend diagonally between the vertical walls i of said casing and locatedbetween the inlet f and outlet endsof said casing and provided 'with passages having top and bottom walls conforming in outline. to double cycloidal curves whose rectangular axes lie in vertical and horizontal planes. r In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

1. WESTON M. FULTON. ".,Witnesses:- 

